It can be hard to define the number of alcoholic drinks a person can have before safely getting behind the wheel. The effects of alcohol on a person depends on their weight, sex, age, exactly what they’ve had to eat that day, their general health and so on.

The following laws apply to drink driving in New Zealand

Under 20 - There is a zero-alcohol limit if you are under 20. That means if you drive after consuming even one drink you can be charged with drink-driving.

20 or over - You must not drive if you have consumed more than the legal alcohol limit, which is now 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.

At 50mg of alcohol, the predictable effects on that person’s driving are reduced coordination, difficulty steering, and a reduced response to emergency driving situations.